Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reveals why Juan Mata was sold to Manchester United

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has spilled the beans on his surprise decision to allow Juan Mata to move to Premier League rivals Manchester United in January, report the Express, with the Portuguese suggesting that it was merely a reflection of the economic realities of football.

Mata joined United in a big money January move despite winning the player of the year award at Chelsea two years in a row, with Mourinho preferring the likes of Oscar and Willian in his attacking midfield roles to the creative but static Mata.

When explaining the rationale behind the transfer, Mourinho simply put it down to a pragmatic acceptance of the realities of the modern transfer market:

“For example, Mata to Man Utd. We are losing a very good player to a direct opponent. Would this have happened 10 years ago? Maybe not.”

“But in the modern football and the new economic reality, if Man Utd pays you an important amount of money he has to go.”